Frameless Supplemental Window With Bullnose Edging And Infiltration Blockers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supplemental windows for fenestration face challenges in minimizing heat transfer while maintaining optical transparency, operability, and aesthetics, with issues such as air leakage, difficulty in size customization, and interference with window treatments.
Innovation Solution
A frameless supplemental window design featuring a sheet material with an edging seal and corner braces that traps a volume of air for thermal insulation, using an attachment mechanism to secure the window without a rigid frame, allowing for easy installation and reinstallation, and incorporating infiltration blockers to reduce air leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If supplemental window features (films, film support elements, window treatments) are added to existing windows, then thermal insulation is improved, but ease of installation and reusability deteriorates due to customization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental window is designed as a universal, frameless unit that can be installed on various existing window types without customization. It integrates multiple functions: the sheet material provides thermal insulation, the edging seal creates an enclosed air space, and the attachment mechanism enables easy installation and removal. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for custom fabrication while maintaining effective heat transfer reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental window uses a flexible sheet material that can conform to different window sizes and shapes. The sheet material, combined with the edging seal, creates a flexible enclosed structure that traps air for insulation without requiring rigid framing. This flexibility enables easy adaptation to various windows and simplifies installation and removal processes.
2Loss of energy
If window films are mounted to create an insulating layer, then thermal insulation is improved, but operability of non-fixed windows deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is designed to be dynamic and adjustable, allowing the supplemental window to be installed, removed, and reinstalled easily. It does not permanently fix the window in place, enabling non-fixed windows to maintain their operability. The mechanism adapts to the window's movement requirements while preserving the insulating air space when installed.
3Loss of energy
If infiltration blockers are added to reduce air leakage, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infiltration blocker is merged with the edging seal to form a single integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate infiltration blocker elements, reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective air leakage prevention. The integrated design traps air within the enclosed space and prevents infiltration at the edges without adding unnecessary components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces heat transfer, maintains transparency and operability, and is cost-effective, with self-adjusting dimensions to fit various window sizes, minimizing air leakage and allowing for easy installation and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The edging functions to substantially enclose (i.e., trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material
Implementation Method 2
an infiltration blocker configured to substantially enclose the outward interior side of a volume of gas between the window pane and the sheet material when the supplemental window apparatus is installed, inhibit air leakage around one or more window elements into an interior space
Data Source
AI summary
A novel and useful frameless supplemental window for fenestration incorporating infiltration blockers suitable for use with existing windows. The supplemental window, in one embodiment, comprises plastic sheet material with bullnose edging around it. Corner braces add rigidity and strength to corners in several embodiments. An attachment mechanism secured either to the sheet material or the bullnose edge functions to fasten and/or seal the supplemental window to an existing window. Infiltration blockers fastened to the sheet or bullnose prevent or minimize air leakage around various window elements. The bullnose edging and infiltration blockers function to substantially enclose (i.e. trap) a volume of air between the window pane and the plastic sheet material. The supplemental window is configured such that the layer of air enclosed is of an optimum thickness within a preferred range of 0.15 to 0.75 inches to maximize thermal insulation properties of the supplemental window.